Tongue-support.



No. 776,321. PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904. H. W. HARTWIG.

TONGUE SUPPORT.

APPLIGATION FILED APR.21,1904.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTOR/VE NITE STATES Patented November 29, 1904.

ATENT FFICE.

TONGUE-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,321, dated November 29, 1904.

Application filed April 21, 1904a To all whom, it natty concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WILLIAM HART- WIG, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Taylor Station, in the county of Jackson and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Tongue-Support, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to supports for the tongues of vehicles and heavy machinery, such as mowers, self-binding harvesters, and threshing-machines and other farm machinery; and the object of the invention is to provide a new and improved tongue support which is simple and durable in construction, readily applied, and adjustable to hold the tongue in a proper position relatively to the animals drawing the machine, so as to prevent undue strain on the necks of the animals, and thereby avoid sores, fatigue, 85c.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

The form of my improved tongue-support shown in the drawings is provided with a bearing A, bolted or otherwise secured to the forward end of a tongue B, and in this bearing is mounted to slide vertically a post 0, carrying on its lower end a transverse bar I), to which are fastened the ends of U-shaped springs E, having bearings E at their free ends to receive the shaft F of a wheel F, adapted to travel on the ground. Coil-springs G are interposed between the end members of the U-shaped springs E, so as to reinforce the latter and properly carry the front end of the machine and to steady the latter when traveling over rough ground.

On the post C is secured a rack G in mesh with a worm-Wheel H, secured on a shaft H, journaled in the bearing A and provided at its upper end with a crank-arm H adapted to be taken hold of by the operator to turn the said shaft H and the worm-wheel H to move the rack C, and with it the post C,

Serial No. 204,194. (No model.)

either in an upward or downward direction, 1

according to the direction in which the crankarm H is turned. Thus the lower end or bottom of the wheel F-can be moved nearer to or farther from the tongue B to regulate the distance between the ground and the front end of the machine, it being understood that the post 0 is locked in place after being adjusted. by the worm-wheel H, meshing in the rack (1.

()n the front end of the tongue B in advance of the support described is arranged a'n extension-tongue B, provided at its rear end with side plates I I to form a fork between which extends the forward end of the tongue B. Bands or collars J surround the plates I and the forward end of the tongue B in a transverse direction to lock the plates to the tongue B, the latter carrying a transverse pin K, adapted to be engaged in notches 1, formed in the rear ends of the plates I and I.

When it is desired to disconnect the extension-tongue B from the tongue B, the operator moves the tongue B slightly upward to disengage the notches I from the pin K and then moves the extension-tongue B forward until it finally engages the rear band J, after which the tongue can be dropped down and rest with its front end on the ground, but be carried at its rear end by the forward bandJ on the tongue B.

It is to be understood that I have illustrated and described merely the principle of my invention and that it'is not confined to the eX- act details of construction disclosed, but that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A tongue-support, comprising a wheel journaled on springs, a vertically-adjustable post carrying the springs, and means for adjusting the post vertically and holding it in an adjusted position.

2. A tongue-support comprising springs, a wheel journaled thereon, a vertically-adjustable post having a rack and carrying said springs, and means for adjusting the post and holding it in adjusted position, said means comprising a worm-wheel meshing with said rack.

23. A tongue-support, comprising a bearing adapted to be bolted to the tongue, a post mounted to slide in said bearing and carrying a rack, a worm-wheel under the control of the operator and journaled in said bearing and in mesh with said rack, U-shaped springs fastened to the lower end of said post and carrying at their free ends bearings, and a wheel journaled in said bearings.

4:. A tongue-support, comprising a bearing adapted to be bolted to the tongue, a post mounted to slide in said bearing and carrying a rack, a worm-wheel under the control of the operator, and journaled in said bearing and in mesh with said rack, U-shaped springs fastened to the lower end of said post and carrying at their free ends bearings, a wheel journaled in said bearings, and auxiliary reinforcing coil-springs between the members of said U-shaped springs.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY WILLIAM HARTWIG.

WVitnesses:

CHAS. J. GIBSON, EMERY Cox. 

